Improvement in fruit-boxes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA P. BOTHWELL, OF MOARTHUR, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT lN FRUIT-BOXES.

Specieation forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,973, dated January 21, 1873.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. P. BOTHWELL, of McArthur, Vinton county and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Gombination of Fruit-Boxes, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention is illustrated by the drawing herewith filed, to which reference is made.

Figure 2 represents the bottom-box, which is eighteen or twenty inches long, ten or twelve inches wide, and from three to ve inches deep, to suit the kind of fruit to be shipped. The sides C of'this box and bottom are one-fourth to three-eighths inch thick. The end boards e e of this box are made, as shown, three or four times the height of the box, and should be from three-fourths to one inch in thickness. They extend to the top of the crate and serve as a support to hold the sliding boxes a b, Fig. 1, in their position. There is a cleat, w, nailed across the ends of this box on the inside, even with top of the side boards, for the sliding boxes to rest ou. There is also a cleat, F, nailed across the ends of this box on the outside, "near the top, to serve as handles to lift it by, and also to strengthen the wood to prevent the end boards from splitting.

Fig. 3 represents the sliding boxes, made and described as follows: The side boards j j are the same length, width, and thickness as those of bottom box, Fig. 2. The end boards h h are one-half inch thicksame width as side boards jj-and are made one-eighth inch longer than the width of end boards e e of bottom box, Fig. 2, so that the end boards e e of bottom box may pass freely between the projections p p of sliding boxes. In making these sliding boxes, Figs. 3 and 4, the end boards h h are set back or in from the ends of the side boards j j, as shown by p p, allowing the end of side board to project past the endV board of box three-fourths to one inch. The length of these sliding boxes, Figs. 3 and 4, from out to out, must correspond to the inside length between the end boards e e, Fig. 2. When thus made they will slide down between the end boardsV e e of bottom box, as shown by Fig. 1. There may be two or more of these sliding boxes or drawers to each crate, A small nail or screw driven through the projecting end ot' side board of the topmost sliding box int-o the end board e e of bottom box will hold them all securely in position while in transit to market; and a cover, T, nailed on the upper box, completes the crate.

I am aware that sliding boxes made with end boards projecting past the sides supporti ed by an upright standard atveach corner are common, and do not claim that as my invention.

Claim.

I claim- In a fruit-crate, the combination of the bottom box c, having end boards e extending to the top ot' the crate, with one or more movable trays or boxes, a b, having the side boards p projecting over the end boards e of the bottom box so that they overlap said end boards, and the .top tray having a cover, T, all constructed and held together substantially as described.

s EZRA P. BOTHWELL. Witnesses: H. W. GOULTRAP, WM. I. RANNELLs. 

